2020 Edition

Background

In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Muslim dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad al-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. The Alaouite Dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family belongs, dates from the 17th century. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half-century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Sultan MOHAMMED V, the current monarch's grandfather, organized the new state as a constitutional monarchy and in 1957 assumed the title of king. Since Spain's 1976 withdrawal from Western Sahara, Morocco has extended its de facto administrative control to roughly 75% of this territory; however, the UN does not recognize Morocco as the administering power for Western Sahara. The UN since 1991 has monitored a cease-fire, which broke down in late 2020, between Morocco and the Polisario Front -- an organization advocating the territory’s independence -- and restarted negotiations over the status of the territory in 2018. In 2020, the US recognized Morocco's sovereignty over all of Western Sahara. In 2011, King MOHAMMED VI responded to the spread of pro-democracy protests in the North Africa region by implementing a reform program that included a new constitution, passed by popular referendum, under which some new powers were extended to parliament and the prime minister, but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. Later that year, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) -- a moderate Islamist democratic party -- won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In 2015, Morocco held its first direct elections for regional councils, which was one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in 2016, but it lost its plurality to the probusiness National Rally of Independents (RNI) in 2021. In 2020, Morocco signed a normalization agreement with Israel, similar to those that Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Sudan had concluded with Israel earlier that year.

Area

land

716,300 sq km

total

716,550 sq km

water

250 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than twice the size of California

Climate

Mediterranean in the north, becoming more extreme in the interior; in the south, hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew

Coastline

2,945 km

Elevation

highest point

Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

lowest point

Sebkha Tah -59 m

mean elevation

909 m

Geographic coordinates

28 30 N, 10 00 W

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar; the only African nation to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines; the waters off the Atlantic coast are particularly rich fishing areas

Irrigated land

17,645 sq km (2019)

Land boundaries

border countries

Algeria 1,941 km; Mauritania 1,564 km; Spain (Ceuta) 8 km and Spain (Melilla) 10.5 km

total

3,523.5 km

Land use

agricultural land

66.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 15.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 47.1% (2023 est.)

forest

12.8% (2023 est.)

other

20.3% (2023 est.)

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Mauritania

Major rivers (by length in km)

Draa - 1,100 km

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

in the north, the mountains are geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts; windstorms; flash floods; landslides; in the south, a hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility

Natural resources

phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Population distribution

the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are scattered through the Atlas Mountains, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

mountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains; the south is mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces

Age structure

0-14 years

25.7% (male 4,898,154/female 4,701,786)

15-64 years

65.9% (male 12,236,752/female 12,410,567)

65 years and over

8.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,529,357/female 1,610,969)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

16.5 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

0.5% (2018)

women married by age 18

13.7% (2018)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

58% (2018 est.)

Death rate

6.66 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

12.7 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

7.8 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

51.7 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

38.9 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 65.6% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 87% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 34.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 13% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

23.3% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

Arab-Amazigh 99%, other 1%

Gross reproduction rate

1.09 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

6.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

16 deaths/1,000 live births

male

20.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

17.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Arabic (official), Tamazight languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)

major-language sample(s)

كتاب ديال لحقائق متاع العالم، احسن مصدر متاع المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

76 years

male

72.5 years

total population

74.2 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

3.893 million Casablanca, 1.959 million RABAT (capital), 1.290 million Fes, 1.314 million Tangier, 1.050 million Marrakech, 979,000 Agadir (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

70 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

31 years

male

30.1 years

total

30.9 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Moroccan

noun

Moroccan(s)

Net migration rate

-1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.1% (2016)

Physician density

0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Population

female

18,723,322

male

18,664,263

total

37,387,585 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

0.81% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i); note - Jewish about 3,000-3,500 (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 72.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 89.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 27.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 10.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2023 est.)

male

15 years (2023 est.)

total

15 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.95 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

0.9% (2025 est.)

male

23.7% (2025 est.)

total

12.3% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.24 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

65.1% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

12 regions; Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Casablanca-Settat, Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Draa-Tafilalet, Fes-Meknes, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Safi, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Souss-Massa, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima

Capital

etymology

derives from the Arabic name Ribat el-Fath, from the words ribat (fortified monastery) and fath (conquest); the third Almohad sultan, Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Manṣur, gave the name to a fort on the site in the 12th century 

geographic coordinates

34 01 N, 6 49 W

name

Rabat

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Morocco; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by the king, by the prime minister, or by members in either chamber of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum; the king can opt to submit self-initiated proposals directly to a referendum

history

several previous; latest drafted 17 June 2011, approved by referendum 1 July 2011

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Morocco

conventional short form

Morocco

etymology

the English name of Morocco derives from, respectively, the Spanish and Portuguese names Marruecos and Marrocos, which stem from Marrakesh, the Latin name for the former capital of ancient Morocco; the Arabic name, Al Maghrib, translates as "The West"

former

French Protectorate in Morocco, Spanish Protectorate in Morocco, Ifni, Spanish Sahara, Western Sahara

local long form

Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah

local short form

Al Maghrib

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador-designate Richard Duke BUCHAN III (since 3 December 2025)

consulate(s) general

Casablanca

email address and website

https://ma.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Km 5.7 Avenue Mohammed VI, Souissi, Rabat 10170

FAX

[212] 0537-637-201

mailing address

9400 Rabat Place, Washington DC 20521-9400

telephone

[212] 0537-637-200

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3508 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Youssef AMRANI (since 27 February 2024)

consulate(s) general

New York

email address and website

washingtonembmorocco@maec.gov.ma Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in the United States (diplomatie.ma)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-0161

telephone

[1] (202) 462-7979

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers chosen by the prime minister in consultation with Parliament and appointed by the monarch; the monarch chooses the ministers of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Islamic Affairs, and National Defense Administration

chief of state

King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999)

election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; monarch appoints the prime minister from the majority party following legislative elections

head of government

Prime Minister Aziz AKHANNOUCH (since 7 October 2021)

Flag

description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag meaning: red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian Gulf; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and the association between God and the nation history: the design dates to 1912

Government type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Independence

2 March 1956 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of 5-judge panels organized into civil, family matters, commercial, administrative, social, and criminal sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 members)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of Judicial Power, a 20-member body presided over by the monarch, which includes the Supreme Court president, the prosecutor general, representatives of the appeals and first instance courts (among them 1 woman magistrate), the president of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), and 5 "notable persons" appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court members - 6 designated by the monarch and 6 elected by Parliament; court president appointed by the monarch from among the court members; members serve 9-year nonrenewable terms

subordinate courts

courts of appeal; High Court of Justice; administrative and commercial courts; regional and Sadad courts (for religious, civil and administrative, and penal adjudication); first instance courts

Legal system

mixed system of civil law based on French civil law and Islamic (sharia) law; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Parliament (Barlaman)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

House of Representatives (Majliss-annouwab)

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

September 2026

most recent election date

9/8/2021

number of seats

395 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

National Rally of Independents (RNI) (102); Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) (87); Istiqlal Party (PI) (81); Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) (34); Popular Movement (MP) (28); Progress and Socialism Party (PPS) (22); Other (41)

percentage of women in chamber

24.3%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

House of Councillors (Majlis al-Mustacharin)

expected date of next election

October 2027

most recent election date

10/5/2021

number of seats

120 (all indirectly elected)

percentage of women in chamber

11.7%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

6 years

National anthem(s)

history

music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970

lyrics/music

Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN

title

"Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif)

National color(s)

red, green

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Medina of Fez; Medina of Marrakesh; Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou; Historic City of Meknes; Archaeological Site of Volubilis; Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin); Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador); Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida); Historic and Modern Rabat

total World Heritage Sites

9 (all cultural)

National holiday

Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

National symbol(s)

pentacle symbol, lion

Political parties

Action Party or PA Amal (hope) Party An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj or Democratic Way Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM Constitutional Union Party or UC Democratic and Social Movement or MDS Democratic Forces Front or FFD Environment and Sustainable Development Party or PEDD Federation of the Democratic Left or FGD Green Left Party or PGV Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI Moroccan Liberal Party or PML Moroccan Union for Democracy or UMD National Democratic Party National Rally of Independents or RNI Neo-Democrats Party Party of Development Reform or PRD Party of Justice and Development or PJD Party of Liberty and Social Justice or PLJS Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS Popular Movement or MP Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV Renaissance Party Renewal and Equity Party or PRE Shoura (consultation) and Istiqlal Party Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP Unified Socialist Party or GSU Unity and Democracy Party

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

wheat, milk, potatoes, sugar beets, tomatoes, barley, olives, apples, tangerines/mandarins, onions (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

2.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

34.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$44.819 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$38.458 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$3.349 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$4.8 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$891.222 million (2023 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$42.262 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

lower middle-income North African economy; ongoing recovery from recent drought and earthquake; rebounding via tourism, manufacturing, and raw materials processing; significant trade and investment with EU; reform programs include fiscal rebalancing, state enterprise governance and private sector investments

Exchange rates

Currency

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

9.497 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

8.988 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

10.161 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

10.131 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

9.942 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$47.09 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$58.575 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$61.746 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

fertilizers, cars, garments, insulated wire, tomatoes (2023)

Exports - partners

Spain 20%, France 17%, Germany 6%, UK 5%, Italy 4% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

43.3% (2024 est.)

government consumption

18% (2024 est.)

household consumption

61.3% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-52.5% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.1% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

3.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

10.1% (2024 est.)

industry

24.1% (2024 est.)

services

54.1% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$154.431 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$60.215 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$73.81 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$73.759 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, coal (2023)

Imports - partners

Spain 16%, China 11%, France 10%, USA 9%, Turkey 5% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (2024 est.)

Industries

automotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

6.1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

12.475 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

3.9% (2022 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

64.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$328.425 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$339.603 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$350.594 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

1.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

3.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$8,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$8,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$9,100 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

7.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

8.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

8.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$32.314 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$36.328 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$37.134 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

9.5% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

9.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

22.4% (2024 est.)

male

22% (2024 est.)

total

22.1% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

10.304 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

25 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

10.344 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

96 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

36.379 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

462 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

2.311 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

14.615 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

7.781 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

78.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

15.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

23.52 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

912.277 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

861.38 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

55.473 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

1.444 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

684,000 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

296,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

25 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

6 (2022 est.)

total

2.42 million (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

2 TV broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other; foreign TV is available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks, with RTM operating one; the state-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2019)

Internet country code

.ma

Internet users

percent of population

91% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

2.874 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

137 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

55.9 million (2023 est.)

Airports

48 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

CN

Heliports

17 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

container ship 6, general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 81

total

94 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Agadir, Casablanca, Tanger, Tangier-Mediterranean

large

3

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

2

small

3

total ports

12 (2024)

very small

5

Railways

standard gauge

2,067 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified)

total

2,067 km (2014)

Military - note

the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) are responsible for protecting Morocco’s national interests, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; key areas of concern for the FAR include international terrorism, maritime security, and regional challenges such as the Polisario Front in Western Sahara and Algeria; the Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), an organization that seeks the independence of Western Sahara, disputes Morocco’s claim of sovereignty over the territory; Moroccan and Polisario forces fought intermittently from 1975, when Spain relinquished colonial authority over the territory, until a 1991 cease-fire and the establishment of a UN peacekeeping mission; the Polisario withdrew from the cease-fire in November 2020, and since then there have been reports of low-intensity hostilities between Morocco and the Polisario Front across the 2,500-kilometer-long berm built in 1987 that separates the two sides; Algeria is seen as a regional rival and has openly backed the Polisario Front the FAR participates in international peacekeeping operations, as well as both bilateral and multinational training exercises; it has relations with a variety of partners including the militaries of France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the US, as well as NATO, the Arab League, and the African Union; Morocco has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation the FAR was created in May 1956; Moroccans were recruited for service in the Spahi and Tirailleur regiments of the French Army during the period of the French protectorate (1912-1956), and Moroccans fought under the French Army during both World Wars, as well as the First Indochina War (1946-1954); the Spanish Army recruited Moroccans from the Spanish Protectorate during both the Rif War (1921-26) and the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by Security Council resolution 690 in April 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in August 1988 by Morocco and the Polisario Front; MINURSO was unable to carry out all the original settlement proposals, but continues to monitor the cease-fire and reduce the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance, and has provided logistic support to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2025)

Military and security forces

Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes the Moroccan Royal Guard), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force, Moroccan Royal Guard, Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: General Directorate for National Security (DGSN; aka National Police), Auxiliary Forces (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 220,000 active Armed Forces (175,000 Army; 10,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force, 20,000 Gendarmerie) (2025)

Military deployments

775 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 890 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Moroccan military's inventory is mostly a mix of older and some more modern armaments from France and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

4.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

4.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

19-25 years of age for 12-month compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

256 (2024 est.)

refugees

18,848 (2024 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

23.024 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

1.82 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

39.329 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

64.173 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

in the north: land degradation and desertification, with soil erosion from farming, overgrazing, and vegetation removal; water and soil pollution from industrial-waste dumping; in the south: desertification; overgrazing; sparse water

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

M'Goun (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

1

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification

Methane emissions

agriculture

283.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

36.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

4.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

377.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

13.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

29 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

9.156 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

212 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

1.063 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

6.852 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

25.4% (2022 est.)